The Cure For Complaining

"But as for you, you will drop dead in this wilderness. And your children will be like shepherds, wandering in the wilderness for forty years. In this way, they will pay for your faithlessness, until the last of you lies dead in the wilderness. “ ‘Because your men explored the land for forty days, you must wander in the wilderness for forty years—a year for each day, suffering the consequences of your sins. Then you will discover what it is like to have me for an enemy.’ I, the Lord, have spoken! I will certainly do these things to every member of the community who has conspired against me. They will be destroyed here in this wilderness, and here they will die!” (Numbers 14:32-35, NLT)

One Bible teacher reminds us that - “Discontentment magnifies what is past, and vilifies what is present, without regard to truth or reason.” - Matthew Henry

Complaining Christians are expressing a form of unbelief

which leads them inevitably to some form of rebellion.

(Would you say that with me?)

When we give in to complaint, we are really telling God that we know better than He does what is best for our lives, that we do not believe He loves us enough to care for us. PAUSE

Here’s what the Word asks of us-

"Do everything without complaining or arguing, so that you may become blameless and pure, children of God without fault in a crooked and depraved generation, in which you shine like stars in the universe" (Philippians 2:14-15, NIV)

____________

The Cure -

If your plan is to just ‘stop complaining’ by filtering the words that come out of your mouth, I can tell you right now with 100% certainty, that before the sun sets today, you will have failed in your quest.

Something or someone will aggravate you, fatigue will overcome you, disappointment will set in - and you will complain!

∙ It might be about one of your kids, or about your spouse.

∙ It may be the server who fails to remember that you asked for the salad dressing on the side.

∙ It could be that the football team you fanatically support will fumble three times, or be the victim of a terrible call... and you’ll talk trash at your TV.

So, am I suggesting that we just have to accept we are a bunch of whiney, entitled people who will always complain? NOT AT ALL!

The cure for a complaining attitude does not start at my lips, it starts in my heart!

(Would you say that with me?)

Jesus teaches us that what we say is an overflow of the things tucked deep inside of us. Give a person enough time to talk and he will eventually reveal what he believes and what he thinks.

“Make a tree good and its fruit will be good, or make a tree bad and its fruit will be bad, for a tree is recognized by its fruit. You brood of vipers, how can you who are evil say anything good? For out of the overflow of the heart the mouth speaks. The good man brings good things out of the good stored up in him, and the evil man brings evil things out of the evil stored up in him." (Matthew 12:33-35, NIV)